Saarbrucken

Saarbrücken needs 1 day: the Ludwigskirche, a Protestant baroque church that together with the square around it forms one of Germany's most harmonious architectural ensembles, is the center of the visit. April-October is best. It's inexpensive by German standards. It's the capital of the Saarland, mainland Germany's smallest federal state, with an identity shaped by its closeness to France -just minutes from the border- reflected in the local cuisine and the everyday bilingualism of much of the city.